BA (Hons) Costume for Performance Bachelor's degree at the Arts, London
BA (Hons) Costume for Performance at Arts London. Founded in 1986, this course sits at the intersection of historical knowledge, creative design and practical stagecraft.
About this course
BA (Hons) Costume for Performance is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the Arts, London, based in London College of Fashion. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Drama graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Music & Performing Arts, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 86% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Stage 1 (Level 4) 4 modules
- Introduction to PerformanceCore20 credits
Module details
In this unit, you will be introduced to your course, its subject specialism and effective learning at undergraduate level. You'll learn the practices and knowledge base needed to understand your discipline and develop skills for independent & collaborative learning, reflection and your own self-development. Reflect on your own background and how that shapes your approach to the course.
- Costume Principles OneCore40 credits
Module details
Understand the fundamental principles, skills and techniques used in costume for performance including life drawing, design practices, pattern cutting, and construction techniques. Through experimentation and research, you'll learn how these principles can be used creatively, embedding the key theories/ issues and research methods alongside the practices and skills of costuming.
- Fashion Cultures and HistoriesCore20 credits
Module details
You'll take a philosophical and theoretical approach to the study of fashion and its role in representing and communicating identity. Understand key ways of thinking about fashion across its cultural, historical, social and political contexts. Engage in debate and analysis of fashion as a key marker of social and cultural change and a means of understanding the relationship between individuals and communities.
- Costume Principles TwoCore40 credits
Module details
Building on Costume Principles One, you'll apply costume skills and techniques to a specific performance genre. You will be supported to design and realise a costume outcome, developing your knowledge and skills with ethical consideration. This unit encourages innovation, experimentation and reflection within your research, design thinking and practice.
Stage 2 (Level 5) 5 modules
- Critical Issues in Fashion ResearchCore20 credits
Module details
You'll take a philosophical and theoretical approach to the study of fashion and its role in representing and communicating identity. Understand key ways of thinking about fashion across its cultural, historical, social and political contexts. Engage in debate and analysis of fashion as a key marker of social and cultural change and a means of understanding the relationship between individuals and communities.
- Costume Practice OneCore40 credits
Module details
Develop a personal direction within the course as you refine specific design and technical skills and choose a specialist area. You'll respond to a brief for either a 'live' (such as dance, circus, opera) or 'mediated' (such as television, film, gaming, animation) outcome. Explore how techniques can be used creatively and ethically.
- Costume Practice TwoCore40 credits
Module details
Continue working within your specialist area from Costume Practice One. You'll collaborate with industry partners on an industry-set brief to produce appropriate discipline-specific outputs for a live (or proposed) outcome/event. Develop your professional working experience, industry understanding and networking abilities through industry exchange.
- Industry PlacementOptional20 credits
Module details
Develop your professional skills with an industry placement where you'll experience the pace, atmosphere and discipline of working in the industry. Gain practical experience of the roles, functions and operations within the industry.
- Industry EngagementOptional20 credits
Module details
Engage with industry practitioners and companies across performance through a series of events (such as visits, talks and masterclasses) related to costume and the wider performance and fashion industry.
Stage 3 (Level 6) 5 modules
- Costume Professional One ExtendedOptional40 credits
Module details
You'll identify an area of personal interest and investigate, research, experiment and innovate to develop your concept and designs for realisation in the following unit (Costume Professional Two). You'll consider ethical debates and take an experimental approach to design and production, working towards an intended performance genre and audience.
- Performance Practice in ContextOptional20 credits
Module details
Build on your theoretical understanding of Performance as you identify a topic related to your field of practice and critically investigate it through an academic essay. Undertake a process of enquiry that examines Performance practice in context, building on critical debates raised through your course and situating these in the context of your future employment in the creative industries.
- Costume Professional OneOptional20 credits
Module details
You'll identify an area of personal interest and investigate, research, experiment and innovate to develop your concept and designs for realisation in the following unit (Costume Professional Two). You'll consider ethical debates and take an experimental approach to design and production, working towards an intended performance genre and audience.
- Creative Industries: Theories and PracticesOptional40 credits
Module details
In this unit, you'll complete an independent research project and engage with industry professionals to learn about current debates and issues that shape and inform cultural production across media, communication and performance. You'll be encouraged to respond to these debates in the form of an extended essay with supporting research materials. This unit will equip you with critical thinking, literacy and communication skills for both academic and professional contexts.
- Costume Professional TwoCore60 credits
Module details
Using feedback from Costume Professional One, you'll realise your final project proposal, demonstrating specialist technical skills, career aspirations, ethical awareness, and your specific discipline interests. You'll prepare for entry into your chosen field by developing your professional presence through appropriate channels.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines practical costume design and creation with an understanding of performance contexts. You'll develop skills in pattern-cutting, garment construction, and textile work alongside studies in theatre history, design theory, and the relationship between costume and performance. Year 1 typically introduces foundational techniques and costume history. Year 2 deepens your practical craft, draping, dyeing, digital design, whilst you explore specialisations such as theatrical costume, film and television costume, or historical dress reconstruction. Year 3 usually culminates in a major project or portfolio where you apply your developing expertise to live performance work, often collaborating with theatre and dance students across the college.
Who it's for
You'll thrive on this course if you combine creative ambition with precision, if you're equally at home sketching ideas and problem-solving a complex zip in week three of tech. You enjoy research (period dress, fabric history, cultural context), but you're motivated by making: seeing a design realised in cloth and worn on stage matters to you. You're interested in how costume tells character, advances narrative and supports the performer's physical work. This course suits people aiming for careers in costume design, theatrical wardrobe, or related roles across stage and screen, as well as those exploring independent practice or heritage costume fields.
Careers & job market
Across Music & Performing Arts nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after finishing their degree. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National graduate earnings in the field start at £20,000–£28,000 at the fifteen-month point, and range from £15,725–£22,200 after three years and £19,975–£28,200 after five years. These figures reflect the diversity of career paths available: full-time employment in costume departments, freelance design and making, further postgraduate study, or combined work and continued training.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is delivered full-time over 3 years at London College of Fashion, part of the University of the Arts, London, in London. Teaching is in English. The University of the Arts, London is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its degrees are nationally recognised. The course holds Bronze in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 86% |
| another higher-education qualification | 9% |
| a Baccalaureate | 2% |
| a previous degree | 1% |
| an Access course | 1% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W451). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Arts London →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Music & Performing Arts graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £20,000 – £28,000 | 1875 |
| 3 years after | £20,500 | £13,500 – £27,500 | 160 |
| 5 years after | £25,500 | £19,000 – £35,000 | 170 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,875. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in music & performing arts · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Music & Performing Arts nationally
National figures for Music & Performing Arts graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,875. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Music & Performing Arts courses at the same study level.
Compared with 527 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Is BA (Hons) Costume for Performance worth it?
Weigh it carefully. On these figures graduates of BA (Hons) Costume for Performance earn close to non-graduate pay, so on cost alone the course is slow to pay off.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 3 years of wages given up while studying. The model remains below break even after 30 years. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 3 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Music & Performing Arts graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Music & Performing Arts graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Orchestras & ensembles
- Schools & conservatoires
- Studios & venues
- Media & freelance
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Music & Performing Arts graduates.
Music Tech Beta Liaison & Support SpecialistinMusic Brands, Inc.Music QTSColmore Education Recruitment LtdMusic Teachers in HuddersfieldAcademicsMusic Rights Operations & Data Services LeadPPLMusic Engagement Officer - Alternative Provision · Coventry MusicMusiceducationukMusic Audio & Tech Support Desk SpecialistMandarin RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 7.9 out of 10: NSS 72% · continued 86%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of the Arts, London
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around London College of Fashion
4,313 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Music & Performing Arts right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Arts London from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £30,890 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Arts London’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Arts London and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Arts London
Music & Performing Arts at other universities
BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated foundation year)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies (with integrated year in professional practice)Aberystwyth UniversityBA (Hons) Drama & Theatre StudiesAberystwyth University
BA (Hons) Creative Industries Futures (including Foundation Year)ACMCommon questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Costume for Performance
Prospectus, key dates, entry and funding, free to your inbox.